Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is prevalent in Upstate, Central New York, Syracuse, and Onondaga County. According to the 2022 New York State Department of Health, Onondaga County had a rate of 59.4 per 100,000 population of emergency department visits for opioid overdoses (compared to 55.3 in NYS excluding NYC) and a rate of 18 per 100,000 population of hospitalizations due to opioid overdoses (compared to 13.7 in NYS excluding NYC).
The rate of unintended opioid related deaths in Onondaga County had decreased after 2016 up until 2019, but then has increased again in 2020
and 2021.
Diagnosis of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and the criteria includes:
- Impaired control: The individual takes opioids in larger amounts or more frequently than intended, or is unable to reduce or control opioid use.
- Social impairment: the use of the opioid causes significant problems in important areas of the individual’s life, such as work, school, or social relationships.
- Risky use: The individual continues to use opioids despite being aware of the risks and negative consequences
- Tolerance: The individual experiences a reduced effect with continued use of the same amount of opioids.
- Withdrawal: The individual experiences physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms when opioid use is reduced or stopped, or takes opioids to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is the use of certain medications to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) and can reduce the risk of relapse.
One MAT option is Suboxone: Suboxone is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, which means that it activates the same receptors in the brain that opioids do, but has a maximal effect without risk of overdose.
This helps to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms without producing the euphoria associated with opioid use. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist, which means that it blocks the effects of opioids. The function of Naloxone as part of Suboxone is to prevent misuse of the medication.
Suboxone is typically taken as a tablet or film that is placed under the tongue, where it dissolves and is absorbed through the mucous membrane into the bloodstream.
There are some potential side effects of Suboxone, including nausea, constipation, headache, and insomnia.
It is important to remember that MAT is just one part of a comprehensive treatment plan, and individuals with OUD also need access to counseling, support services, and other resources to support their recovery.